Little Rockers celebrate good season

The Little Rocks program at the Morrisburg Curling Club officially wrapped up the 2012-13 season Monday, March 18 with few fun ends of curling and a dinner. “This year was awesome with a great bunch of supportive parents and wonderful kids,” said Ian Wilson who co-runs the program with his wife Kathi. “The level of improvement was immense as the kids really enjoyed this sport. A lot of them are planning on coming back next year, and we will see the program develop to where Morrisburg will be a force to be reckoned with in the curling community.” This year’s Little Rocks program provided activity for 17 young curlers, seven of them out for their first season. Of the other 10, one is a fourth year curler, four have been playing for three years and five were curling their second season. Two of the curlers will move up to Bantam curling (13 years) next year. “Our program is growing and will continue to improve immensely as long as the kids stick with it,” said Wilson. Pictured above at their season ending curling party, are Little Rocks curlers, front l-r, Kyra Lewis, Arrieanna Brown, Annaka Gibbons, Markus Szuky, Erin Gibbons, Christian Meuller, James Szuky and Jonathan Charette. In the middle row are Abby Trizisky, Cameron Brown, Tommy Derikz, Hannah Gibbons, and Ewan Wilson. Back, l-r, are Ian Wilson, Mackenzie
Whyte (volunteer helper), Aiden White, Nick Goupil, Kristi Charette, Martina Lewis and Kathi Wilson.

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The South Dundas “Pizza Hut” Atom B Rep Lions were defeated in their opener here on Saturday night at the hands of the visiting NGS Braves. The Lions who were 1-2-1 in exhibition play coming off a win last week against South Stormont couldn’t survive the offensive pressure of the Braves, 5-1.

With the score 2-1 Braves half way through the third period, the Lions looked to tie the game up but were set back on their heels by the Braves offense.

The Lions gave up three goals in just over a minute to put the game away.

Braves forward Barret Rutters completed his hat trick with goals eight seconds apart, one on a passing play and the other one on a break from centre.

The Braves forwards drove the net and isolated the Lions defenceman allowing forwards to find themselves wide open and able to get their passes through on consecutive plays.

Lions goaltender Brendan Shaver was strong throughout the game and made lots of keys saves early, but with the score 1-1 in the second period and the Lions on the power play, Braves forward M. Brownlee broke down the Lions wing and wristed a shot off the post and off Shavers left pad into the net to give the Braves the lead.

The Lions tried to respond later in the period when Jack Connors received a pass from Owen Fetterly and skated freely into the Braves zone before wristing a shot over the net.

In the first period, the Lions came out strong and carried the play grabbing an early lead on a line change.

Jayden Rowe and Jaeden Phifer-Shaver got caught up on the bench and the puck hit Phifer-Shaver. Ben Lapier picked it up and stick handled across the ice into the Braves end to beat both defenceman before putting a move on the Braves goalie to open him so he could slide home a backhand shot through the five hole.

Later in the game Lapier broke down the right wing and send a cross ice pass onto the stick of Joshua Broad, but he was robbed as the Braves goaltender Tyson Zollinger stuck out his right pad.

Defenceman pairing of Dana Domanko and Emytt Fetterly and Nathen Verhey and Kieran Geurkink continued to improve their defensive play and were able to get some shots at the Braves netminder to create scoring chances for the Lions forwards.

Brody Fairbairn and Duncan Hutt teamed up on one play to get Fairbairn open in the slot before he slid a shot pass the right leg and post.

Nolan Henry was the defensive forward of the game as he continued his strong back checking while creating offensive chances.

The South Dundas “Pizza Hut” Atom B Rep Lions will face the Char-lan Rebels here on Thursday night at 7pm, as they look for their first points of the season. Come out and support your Lions!

The Morrisburg Lions of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey league announced today that Gary Brownlee and Rick Gilmer have joined the team’s ownership group. Along with Dale Lewis and Kevin Casselman, they are excited to begin a new chapter of junior hockey in Morrisburg.

Brownlee, who has been active in sports for many years, will serve as the team’s vice-president. A resident of Osnabruck Center, Brownlee is owner of Gary Brownlee Construction Company.

Gilmer, a local Morrisburg area businessman, has also been involved with area sports teams for many years. Rick, who resides with his family in Morrisburg, is excited to become a member of the Lions organization, and will serve as vice-president/assistant GM.

“It is very important for our organization to truly be a fabric of the community, and we feel having local ownership is an important step in this process,” says Lions General Manager Kevin Casselman.

“Through this process we were looking for people who are passionate about the community as well as the game of hockey, and we found that in Gary and Rick.”

The new owners are excited and committed to bringing quality family entertainment, and high standard of ethics and conduct to the team.

They fell that having the chance to continue to have local ownership and great hockey people is a great addition to the Lions program. “We embrace the upcoming changes to the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League with enthusiasm, pride and excitement.”

The new organization also took the opportunity to extend heartfelt gratitude to outgoing executive members Janice Casselman and Kim Bennett.

Janice has been part of the organization, alongside husband Ron, for over three decades, and served her community with dignity and pride over that time.

Kim came on board in early 1990’s, and has served as a tireless worker for her hockey club for over 22 years.

“We can count on one hand how many home games Kim has missed over the 22 years,” says GM Casselman.

“Kim devoted herself and family to Lions program beyond what words can say! We hope to continue to represent the community with same level of respect and pride.”

The Lions also announced that former NHL and Pittsburgh Penguins Captain Dan Frawley will return to coach the Lions program in 2013.

Frawley was a hard-working right-winger who played in nearly 300 NHL games in the 1980’s. His desire and ability to lead by example on the ice made him an asset.

Born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Frawley played Major Junior ‘A’ with the Sudbury Wolves and the Cornwall Royals winning a Memorial Cup with the Cornwall Royals.

After scoring 47 points for Sudbury as a rookie in 1979-80, Frawley was chosen by the Chicago Black Hawks at the 1980 Entry Draft. After spending two years in the AHL, he played 30 games for the Chicago Black Hawks in 1984-85.

On October 7, 1985, the Pittsburgh Penguins picked up Frawley. He enjoyed four solid years with the Pens as they rebuilt themselves around young super star Mario Lemieux.

Such was Frawley’s positive impact in the dressing room that he was named team captain in 1987-88.

After leaving the NHL in 1989, he played nearly five years in the minors before retiring in 1993. After one year away from the game, Dan returned to help the AHL’s Rochester Americans win the Calder Cup in 1996.

In 2003, Frawley was selected to the Rochester Americans hall of fame for his contributions as a longtime player, and his work ethic earned him this honor.

The Lions also announced that Andrew Scott former Kemptville 73’s Junior ‘A’ assistant coach , and former EOJHL 2010 Metro division “coach of the year” will be returning as Associate Coach with the team.

Andrew and Dan have been very busy in the recruitment process, and are excited with the talent level of the prospects.

The Lions will be active throughout the community this summer .. participating in as many community activities as possible.

“Hosting the provincial darts championship at our branch was a very big deal for us,” said Rose Lavallie, president of the Iroquois Legion, Branch #370. “When we submitted our bid to host this major event on behalf of our District G, we were up against some much bigger area auxiliaries: when we learned in June, 2011, that Iroquois had been chosen, well it was great news.”

More than 160 darts players, making up 40 teams, arrived in Iroquois on Friday, June 22, in order to take part in elimination play which started at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 23.

When all the rounds were over, Uxbridge, Branch #170, took on Highland Creek, Branch #258, for the championship.

The team from Highland Creek, made up of Yvonne Tracey, Shirley McMurter, Ann Butterfield and Sue Wilson, won the trophy, the medals and, as Iroquois’ sports officer, Sheila Holmes, put it, “bragging rights for the year.”

“The top six teams from each zone go to the district finals, then the top six teams from each district come to the provincial finals,” Holmes explained.

“There was a lot of preparation and work done by the Women’s Auxiliary to make this weekend a success for our visitors.”

Among other things, the Legion had to provide lists of accommodations and area restaurants for the visitors, as well as see to it that food was plentiful and delicious throughout the day explained Darleen Riddell.

Among the VIPs attending were Sharron Hanrahan, the provincial sports chair, and Barb McIsaac, the provincial president of the Ladies Auxiliary. Both praised the host legion and the venue.

“This was my first visit to this area,” McIsaac said. “This is a lovely town, and this was a very well run tournament.”

“A beautiful area,” said Hanrahan. “There was excellent work by the Branch #370 ladies in putting this event together. And their hospitality was incredible.”

Unfortunately, only Cornwall made it to the provincial playoffs from district G, eventually coming in 13th. Morrisburg and Iroquois teams did not make the cut, “although we did try hard,” Rose Lavallie laughed. “We just couldn’t swing it.”

Tournament guests were treated to breakfast, hosted by the Oddfellows at their Hall on Saturday morning, before play began. The Iroquois Legion served lunch and dinner to the darts players, then hosted a social evening to wind up the weekend tournament.